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In a recent discussion, Mark Aimone, Director of Advancement at Wilbraham & Monson Academy, demonstrated how to leverage AI tools to create and manage gift pyramids for annual fund campaigns. Here's a breakdown of the key insights shared during his conversation with me.
Mark was initially resistant to AI tools, but became a convert after discovering their efficiency. Using ChatGPT, he demonstrates how to quickly build a gift pyramid for an annual fund campaign with a $1.2 million goal.
The process starts with a simple prompt: "Build a gift pyramid for an annual fund campaign with a goal of $1.2 million." He then refines the parameters by adding:
One of the most valuable aspects of using AI for gift pyramids is the ability to make real-time adjustments based on what you know about your donor pool. Mark demonstrates how to modify the pyramid when certain gift levels might not be achievable:
"Let's say that we can't get eight $25,000 gifts, but we could get twenty $10,000 gifts," Mark explains. By simply instructing the AI to "assume 20 gifts at $10,000 and zero gifts at $25,000," the tool recalculates the entire pyramid in seconds.
For schools just starting with annual funds, Mark suggests beginning with a realistic goal based on previous fundraising or capacity assessment. He demonstrates a smaller pyramid with a $150,000 goal, showing how the gift levels scale appropriately.
Mark emphasizes that the pyramid itself is just a mathematical framework. The real value comes from how you use it to guide your fundraising strategy:
When I suggest having the AI recommend activities for each gift level, Mark highlights an important limitation: "AI doesn't personally know Prospect A, B, C, or D. I do. My staff does."
While AI can provide generic recommendations (like personal meetings for top prospects), users are cautioned against over-reliance on technology for the relationship aspects of fundraising:
"This is a personal business at the end of the day. It's one-on-one," Mark explains. "What's my rationale? What's my conversation? What's the donor interested in? What's my case for supporting the annual fund with this particular donor?"
Before building a gift pyramid, schools need:
The gift pyramid exercise isn't just about creating a mathematical model—it's about creating a roadmap for your fundraising strategy. It helps advancement teams visualize what's needed to reach their goal and prioritize their efforts accordingly.
"A gift pyramid is a way to help you see what you need to do to get to the end." - Mark Aimone
For advancement professionals looking to enhance their fundraising strategy using AI tools, this approach offers a practical starting point that combines technological efficiency with the necessary human element of fundraising.
